Unpopular opinion: DCPS teachers are super well paid!

[Anonymous]

DC pays way better than surrounding schools, but it still wasn’t enough to keep me there. No amount could. The lack of accountability for student behaviors (yes, even in Ward 3) and the disgusting pressure of the IMPACT system even for a “highly effective” teacher drove me and so many others out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the repeated references to the high cost of living. Students' families--including the posters here--experience the same cost of living.

This! And many of us make less than DCPS teachers.

I don’t understand these arguments. Is it woe is me I make so little no one else should make more than me? Like why shouldn’t we want everyone to be well compensated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got our school budget. Our librarian makes $140k. Most teachers make about $130k and they work for 9 months per year and they get a pension.
I am happy for them but people have to stop with pressuring parents to give them gift cards, valentine presents and all the talk about them not being well paid.
By

This is not valid in other states. I am just talking about DCPS and probably DC metro and other big cities.

That’s it 🙂

Yup. I have 20 years experience and am in a senior role at my large nonprofit and make $126. We have had some lovely, lovely teachers and assistants when my kids were at a title 1 elementary, and I was generous with the gifts. But I no longer go overboard or give gifts to individual teachers in middle and hs. They are professionals!

A 20 year teacher with a masters makes 112. https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

I don't think I can put into words how maddening this thread is

How much do you think that other nonprofit professionals with 20 years of experience and a master's make, and who have similar benefits (except for the summar breaks, week at Christmas and Easter)? Who also have huge drawbacks in their work (which are hard to describe, relatively, because most of us can imagine what it's like to be in a classroom)?

And how much do they think college professors make? Elementary school art teachers in DCPS make more than art professors in universities.

Looking at some local schools... college professors make more than elementary art teachers. At GW, the average professor in the college of arts and sciences makes about $160K. In the college of business and school of public health, it's over $200K.

You understand that the "college of arts and sciences" includes people in a broad range of disciplines making a broad range of salaries, yes? It includes professors in physics or cognitive neuroscience who may make significantly more, but also professors in the arts and languages who make significantly less. And that's just the full professors. Many academics struggle for years to find full professor jobs, working in adjunct positions that pay almost nothing and often come without benefits.

The point is that there are many, many professionals in this area who make less than 100k. Teaching is a tough profession and I'm not trying to take anything away from that. But refusing to acknowledge that DCPS (rightly!) actually pays teachers pretty well makes you come off as entitled, especially to parents with kids in DCPS who have similar educations and also work in tough fields and make the same or less. Like it is just insulting to be told by a teacher making 100k or 112k "oh well it's expensive here, that's unliveable" when I live on less than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the max salary of a 10 month teacher is $131k. I’m not sure most teachers are on the PhD scale.

Also, what 3 months don’t teachers work? 😂

The max teacher salary is $146k
https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

Yes, but most jobs you think of as “teacher” are 10 month positions. The $146k is for 12 month positions.

Wrong. The $146k is for an ET15, which is a 10 month job.

I’m sorry, I’m just not seeing the same thing you’re seeing. When I look at page 4 I see FY2023 ET-15 salaries. There are three tables on this page all for ET-15s but at different month employments. I’m looking at the bottom right corner which is the Masters+60/PhD and 21+ years experience box.

10 month - $131,003
11 month - $144,103
12 month - $146,689

Could you please explain what I’m understanding wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the max salary of a 10 month teacher is $131k. I’m not sure most teachers are on the PhD scale.

Also, what 3 months don’t teachers work? 😂

The max teacher salary is $146k
https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

Yes, but most jobs you think of as “teacher” are 10 month positions. The $146k is for 12 month positions.

Wrong. The $146k is for an ET15, which is a 10 month job.

I’m sorry, I’m just not seeing the same thing you’re seeing. When I look at page 4 I see FY2023 ET-15 salaries. There are three tables on this page all for ET-15s but at different month employments. I’m looking at the bottom right corner which is the Masters+60/PhD and 21+ years experience box.

10 month - $131,003
11 month - $144,103
12 month - $146,689

Could you please explain what I’m understanding wrong?

I think the 12 month salaries are contracted for when DCPS had extended school year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the max salary of a 10 month teacher is $131k. I’m not sure most teachers are on the PhD scale.

Also, what 3 months don’t teachers work? 😂

The max teacher salary is $146k
https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

Yes, but most jobs you think of as “teacher” are 10 month positions. The $146k is for 12 month positions.

Wrong. The $146k is for an ET15, which is a 10 month job.

I’m sorry, I’m just not seeing the same thing you’re seeing. When I look at page 4 I see FY2023 ET-15 salaries. There are three tables on this page all for ET-15s but at different month employments. I’m looking at the bottom right corner which is the Masters+60/PhD and 21+ years experience box.

10 month - $131,003
11 month - $144,103
12 month - $146,689

Could you please explain what I’m understanding wrong?

I think the 12 month salaries are contracted for when DCPS had extended school year

I’m a teacher, I know exactly what 10, 11, and 12 month positions are. The PP who said I was wrong seems to know most teachers are 10 month employees but is reading the wrong table. At least that’s my best guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a first year mcps teacher and I make $60k. If I were single this would be unlivable.

No, not unlikeable. 60k as a first year teacher??? You'd do what lots of people in their 20s do -- get a roommate or two, pack your lunch, etc. This is normal for a young professional starting out. You make more than many people starting out other professions that require the same (or sometimes more) education, including library sciences, marketing/communications, etc.

But since you are apparently in a relationship where you cohabitate, you are in an even better situation and get to skip the roommates. Good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher who feels adequately compensated.

Yesterday I fixed a toilet, picked up trash outside of my school, swept my classroom, provided my own paper and toner, ran a club during my lunch ‘break,’ contacted 15 parents, graded 100+ papers, and taught the children.

My school does not have enough teachers and for several years in a row multiple teachers have had to absorb kids from other groups.

We could be paid less if DC punished children more. The only thing keeping me in a place where I’ve been punched is $$.

+1 Fellow teacher who "fixes" the toilet daily, buys most of my own supplies, has been hit by children, gotten lice from comforting them, and is home sick today from contacting their viruses.

Omg lol. The DRAMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got our school budget. Our librarian makes $140k. Most teachers make about $130k and they work for 9 months per year and they get a pension.
I am happy for them but people have to stop with pressuring parents to give them gift cards, valentine presents and all the talk about them not being well paid.
By

This is not valid in other states. I am just talking about DCPS and probably DC metro and other big cities.

That’s it 🙂

Yup. I have 20 years experience and am in a senior role at my large nonprofit and make $126. We have had some lovely, lovely teachers and assistants when my kids were at a title 1 elementary, and I was generous with the gifts. But I no longer go overboard or give gifts to individual teachers in middle and hs. They are professionals!

A 20 year teacher with a masters makes 112. https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

I don't think I can put into words how maddening this thread is

How much do you think that other nonprofit professionals with 20 years of experience and a master's make, and who have similar benefits (except for the summar breaks, week at Christmas and Easter)? Who also have huge drawbacks in their work (which are hard to describe, relatively, because most of us can imagine what it's like to be in a classroom)?

Yes!! AND no pension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got our school budget. Our librarian makes $140k. Most teachers make about $130k and they work for 9 months per year and they get a pension.
I am happy for them but people have to stop with pressuring parents to give them gift cards, valentine presents and all the talk about them not being well paid.
By

This is not valid in other states. I am just talking about DCPS and probably DC metro and other big cities.

That’s it 🙂

Yup. I have 20 years experience and am in a senior role at my large nonprofit and make $126. We have had some lovely, lovely teachers and assistants when my kids were at a title 1 elementary, and I was generous with the gifts. But I no longer go overboard or give gifts to individual teachers in middle and hs. They are professionals!

A 20 year teacher with a masters makes 112. https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

I don't think I can put into words how maddening this thread is

How much do you think that other nonprofit professionals with 20 years of experience and a master's make, and who have similar benefits (except for the summar breaks, week at Christmas and Easter)? Who also have huge drawbacks in their work (which are hard to describe, relatively, because most of us can imagine what it's like to be in a classroom)?

Yes!! AND no pension.

Summer breaks are unpaid. DCUM likes to forget that that pesky fact. And that pension? You need to be able to survive to the end of your career to actually get the full pension, and most of us don’t. DCUM also likes to ignore the conditions teachers endure.

If we had such a great deal, I’d see more people joining us. Instead, what I see are teachers fleeing for easier jobs. Found out yesterday we’re losing a science teacher. She’s the 8th so far this year. DCUM, this is your chance. If you truly think we have it good, join us! We have tons of openings.

[Anonymous]

There are several threads on this forum from parents, who do not want their child to become a teacher. Guess why???
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1186492.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are several threads on this forum from parents, who do not want their child to become a teacher. Guess why???
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1186492.page

If you actually read those threads, you'd see many, many of us would be happy to see our kids become teachers because it's a very secure job with excellent benefits, and it can be more rewarding than other jobs.

My mom, MIL, sister, and SIL are all teachers. I sometimes wish I'd become a teacher, even though I like my job (in scientific research). I am mid-40s so if I switched now I'd miss out on a lot of the biggest benefits (specifically the pension) so I won't, but I think teaching is a great job.

[Anonymous]

It's simple economics. If they paid less, they wouldn't have as many highly qualified teachers. My spouse would commute 5 mins to a title 1 school near our home as opposed to driving 50 minutes to a title 1 school in DC if the salaries were the same. DC pays more, so she stays. She'd get a pension almost anywhere as a teacher. Not sure why teachers shouldn't get a pension just because other people don't? Why aren't we fighting so MORE people get pensions rather than saying teachers don't deserve it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a first year mcps teacher and I make $60k. If I were single this would be unlivable.

No, not unlikeable. 60k as a first year teacher??? You'd do what lots of people in their 20s do -- get a roommate or two, pack your lunch, etc. This is normal for a young professional starting out. You make more than many people starting out other professions that require the same (or sometimes more) education, including library sciences, marketing/communications, etc.

But since you are apparently in a relationship where you cohabitate, you are in an even better situation and get to skip the roommates. Good for you.

Agreed, I'm not trying to pile on here but I'm in my late 30s and have never lived alone (roommates until I got married), I am not sure this is a reasonable expectation. As a parent I can't afford a single family house in the best school districts in my government salary either, that doesn't make my compromise "unliveable."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the repeated references to the high cost of living. Students' families--including the posters here--experience the same cost of living.

This! And many of us make less than DCPS teachers.

I don’t understand these arguments. Is it woe is me I make so little no one else should make more than me? Like why shouldn’t we want everyone to be well compensated?

My reading of the beginning of the thread was pushback against the DCUM idea that we should be giving teachers lots of monetary "thank you" gifts because they make so little. I'm a professional who makes a salary within (not at the very top or bottom) of the DCPS pay scales listed here, and before reading DCUM I thought that it was inappropriate to give professionals and public sector employees gifts over $20. This thread is all "$5 gift card!" but if you read the "what do you give teachers?" threads its never $5, it's like $50-100. If we are supposed to give teachers sums like that because they "make so little," you assume parents make much more, and many of us don't.

I'd be happy if middle class socially beneficial jobs like teaching made more! It's a hard job that is foundational to every community! I just can't make up the difference out of my own pocket, and think heartfelt cards from parents/kids and classroom supply contributions should be enough.